Glee misses
Lynn Freeman
USO. Directed by Michelle Johansson
Downstage Theatre, May 5-7
Reviewed by Lynn Freeman
BEWARE of how you market yourself – USO is not ‘Glee meets Boyz in the Hood’. It is a story from the streets of South Auckland addressing drugs, redundancy, pregnancy, desperation, hope and possible salvation. There is lots of music, mainly gospel, sung beautifully.
The Black Friars company comes from South Auckland. You may have seen their Pacifica interpretation of Othello a couple of years ago. Now they have moved on from the Bard to tell their own stories.
They have woven USO from real events, but there are irritating plot holes where that weaving just falls apart. The director needed to take a much firmer hand honing the devised material. The play seriously lacks pace.
The on-stage chemistry amongst the cast is a pleasure to watch, the night club scene is cleverly portrayed, the singing is lovely, and the actors play directly from the heart. There is a spread of confidence and ability across the cast. They know what they want to say and it’s important we hear them, but we will listen more closely when we are more engaged in their productions.
Downstage Theatre, May 5-7
Reviewed by Lynn Freeman
BEWARE of how you market yourself – USO is not ‘Glee meets Boyz in the Hood’. It is a story from the streets of South Auckland addressing drugs, redundancy, pregnancy, desperation, hope and possible salvation. There is lots of music, mainly gospel, sung beautifully.
The Black Friars company comes from South Auckland. You may have seen their Pacifica interpretation of Othello a couple of years ago. Now they have moved on from the Bard to tell their own stories.
They have woven USO from real events, but there are irritating plot holes where that weaving just falls apart. The director needed to take a much firmer hand honing the devised material. The play seriously lacks pace.
The on-stage chemistry amongst the cast is a pleasure to watch, the night club scene is cleverly portrayed, the singing is lovely, and the actors play directly from the heart. There is a spread of confidence and ability across the cast. They know what they want to say and it’s important we hear them, but we will listen more closely when we are more engaged in their productions.
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